I just came back from a 2-day live intensive coaching training with my mentor coach Terri Levine, The Guru of Coaching, and felt totally energized & excited! There are so many new strategies and action steps I learned from this 2-day training, and I can't wait to apply them to my coaching business and my life, starting TODAY.

You see, you can learn all the knowledge in the world, but, the secret to success is the ability to take ACTION and follow through. Incidentally, TODAY is a very special day to start taking action.

Why?

Today, September 22, starts the countdown of the LAST 100 days of 2008.

If you haven't had a great year, if you have not grown or become more prosperous, you need to do something differently.

Why? Because all change, all progress begins with a single DECISION, a single ACTION, a single YES.

Are you ready to astound yourself by what you can achieve in the final 100 days of the year?

I challenge you to say YES to your dreams and take ACTION today!

Here are some resources that will help you get started and finish 2008 strong!

1. An article I wrote: "Turning a Deaf Ear to the Nay Sayers"

We all have to deal with nay sayers in our lives. The difference between success and failure often lies in your ability to turn a deaf ear to the nay sayers. It's certainly true in my own life. When they say "You can't do that", I say "Just watch me!" Read the entire article here.

2. The 100 Day Challenge -- an amazing online power tool to help you set goals, take actions and keep you on track for the next 100 days. Get all the details here.

3. If you prefer one-on-one, personal attention and support to ACCELERATE your success before 2008 vanishes, sign up for a complimentary 20-min coaching consult with me. Successful people are driven and they take swift actions. That's who I work with. If you are one such person, sign up for your consult here.

==> http://www.beyondhorizoncoaching.com/introsession.html

"When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. "
-- Daisaku Ikeda, Japanese Author, Poet and Peace Activist

Are YOU ready to make 2008 your BEST year ever?

Just say YES and take action NOW!

To your success,
Hueina

P.S. If you are SERIOUS about achieving your goals, and would like to ACCELERATE your success, go here:
==> http://www.beyondhorizoncoaching.com/introsession.html

Labels: attitude, coaching, getting support, goal-setting, personal development, productivity, success

For those of you who are parents, here are 3 Teleclasses to check out. One is coming up TODAY at 2:00PM EST.

Teleclass #1
Join parent coach Joe Bruzzese (www.thinking-forward.com) as he interviews Vanessa Van Petten (www.onteenstoday.com) about these crucial issues of parenting teens:
1. What are some pitfalls parents make when talking to kids and teens?
2. What kind of pressure is on kids coming from parents and how does this affect kids differently?
3. How can parents help with school burn-out?

Date: Thursday, September 18
Time: 2:00-2:30 PM Eastern Time
Visit Joe's blog to get all the details about how to dial in for this no-cost Teleclass.

Teleclass #2
Joe gave a Back-to-School Teleclass on these important issues:
1. Building responsibility and accountability into your child's year
2. Building a positive relationship with your child's teachers
3. Organize assignments and getting homework done

This Teleclass recording is available here.

Teleclass #3
Do you suffer from decision-making paralysis? Do you have a tendency to over-commit yourself, and then kick yourself afterwards? Do you see all the options and every perspective, and just can't make a decision? Or do you often stress out and regret your decisions? Verena Aibel (founder of Vibrant Visions International) and I had a lively discussion on decision-making and how to overcome over-committing tendencies. You will learn how to make decisons with ease, and true to your heart. We shared many personal stories and strategies that we use and teach our clients. We had a blast! You will laugh, reflect, and come away with many nuggets.

This Teleclass recording is available here.

Labels: decision-making, Free Teleclass, getting support, learn to say no, making changes, parenting, productivity, relationship, Resources, setting boundaries, stress management, time management

Summer came and went so quickly. In fact, we're well into the fall season, according to the lunar calendar. Last Sunday was Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, aka Moon Festival, which falls on August 15th of the lunar calendar, and is a very special day in Chinese culture. I've written a post about the legends and my reflections of the day.

I hope you had enjoyed your summer vacation as much as I did. I took an extended family vacation from late August into early September. My parents went on a week-long vacation with us in the Poconos (see the picture of us white water rafting down Lehigh River). Then I took some extra days off, until we celebrated my daughter's 13th birthday and Labor Day weekend, and sent the kids back to school. Ah, it was a sweet escape with so many memories we will all treasure forever.

School and work are in full swing again. It's really nice to have the house to myself (and my two cats) during the day, and not be interrupted a million times when I work from my home office. On the first day of school, I relish the complete silence in my house. Ah, peace and quiet.

On the other hand, I miss summer ALREADY! I'm really a warm-climate person, and the prospect of a bitter cold winter ahead (as I was told would happen this year) is really not appealing. If you too wish summer never goes away, here are some ideas I came up that might help.


Allow yourself to have FUN
When you zero in on WHY you love summer, it's easier to find ways to make summer last. I think most people love summer because they associate it with FUN and carefree days leisurely spent in the sun, on the beach, by the pool, in the park, vacationing, playing with their friends, kids and/or pets, etc. If FUN is the number one reason why you love summer, why not inject more FUN into your life all year around? Most people I met and work with are severely FUN-starved. You might know how to work hard, but have you forgotten how to PLAY and have fun?! What's FUN for you? Schedule those activities into your life on a regular basis. And, by the way, you do NOT have to wait until you are done with ALL your work, before you can have FUN. Honestly, when would you ever be done? My point exactly.


Un-plan your day
Someone said that life is what happens when we are busy planning for the future. In this day and age, most people (including children) are over-scheduled, and running 24/7 at a head-spinning speed. Forget about stopping by and casually visiting friends and neighbors on a whim. Even play dates for little kids have to be scheduled ahead of time. While it's good to be organized and plan ahead, there's much joy in having a No Plan Day, or spontaneously go on a little excursion on your own (or with someone).

Contrary to western paintings, Chinese paintings often leave plenty of "white space" and it's considered just as important as the painted part on the canvas. It provides the all-important BALANCE. Once in a while, leave some "white space" on your calendar, so you can choose to use that time to do something FUN spontaneously, or, do absolutely NOTHING at all.


Sleep in when you need it
I love the days when I don't have to rush anywhere in the morning (yup, not a morning person). During our family vacation this year, I decided to take it easy, instead of trying to CRAM every possible activities into our 7-day trip. Having FUN is very important, but, using the vacation time to recharge is just as important to me. Except for the day we went white water rafting (we had to arrive at a certain time for that), the rest of the vacation I allowed myself to sleep until I naturally woke up. Let me tell you, it felt SO good! I even opted to take a nap one afternoon, instead of going swimming with my husband and kids. If you're like most Americans, you are probably severely sleep-deprived. When was the last time you let yourself sleep in, or take a nap? Yes, naps are not just for toddlers or cats. Research has shown that they are actually good for your health and productivity. Next time you're dragging your feet, instead of trying to "power through" the day/week/month, why not un-schedule something and get some sleep instead?


Stay active
It's natural that we are more physically active when it's warm outside. There are so many more activities you can participate than in winter months. Chances are, you have been out biking, hiking, swimming, rock climbing, playing sports, etc. Physical activities boost your energy level, lift your mood (your body releases feel-good hormone endorphin when you exercise), help you stay in shape or lose weight, and reduce your risks of many major illnesses. The question is, now that summer is over, and the colder months are approaching, what can you do to stay active and healthy? If you don't already have some sports or physical activities that you can do all year round, now it's the time to try out new activities.

No, you don't need to go to the gym to exercise (unless you love that). I've found that when you can find a sport or activity that is FUN for you, it would be so much easier for you to stick to it and get the exercise you need for your health, and reap the stress relief benefits too. Don't be afraid to try something new. Find someone to try it with you. I started taking fencing classes with my 10-year-old son back in the spring, and we both LOVE it! He came to the first trial class to observe, and decided that he wanted to try. It turned out that he is kind of gifted for fencing. We both enjoy the sport and our special time together tremendously.


Eat light
We tend to eat a little lighter in summer months. At least that's my case. There's abundance of fruits and vegetables to choose from, and I love fruit smoothies and salads on hot days. Eating light is of course great for health. Even though the weather is turning cooler, you can still continue to eat the fruits and vegetables. There are frozen ones all year round, and you can have smoothies too. Just beware of those whip cream and calories-laden Frappuccino (see the nutritional values chart). You could be drinking almost 500 calories with up to 19 grams of fat and 60 grams of sugar in one medium (16 oz) drink!


Create a Carefree Zone
When I think of summer, I think of carefree days. When you are completely in the moment, being relaxed and/or doing something you love, there is no stress. How do you capture and sustain that carefree spirit of summer all year round? If you tend to be a worrier, you're probably stressed out a lot. There are a few ideas that could help. First of all, write down your to-do list, instead of letting everything "dancing in your head" and creating "free-floating anxiety" all day long. After you have your master list, decide what to do, to delegate, or to dump from your list. Then, choose to focus on only 3 things for each day, and schedule those tasks on your calendar.

You can create a Carefree Zone by designating a special place inside (or outside) of your home. It could be a room, a corner, a comfy chair, your bathtub, or a favorite spot in the park on your way home, etc. Decorate that place with things that soothe and please you. Then, once a day, or as often as you need it, go to your Carefree Zone. Instruct your family not to disturb you when you are in the Zone. You can do whatever pleases you and brings your joy in your Carefree Zone. The only rule is that you are not allowed to think or worry about your to-do list.

Alternatively, you can create a Carefree Zone without an actual physical location. Your goal is to have the joyful, carefree feeeeeeeeling. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you are doing. You can achieve that simply by changing your thoughts, and CHOOSE how you would like to feel. Choose a carefree, happy thought, and you can feeeeeeeeeeel happy NOW. As I wrote in a previous article, nirvana is only a thought away.

I hope these ideas inspire you to think and do things a little differently. What other ideas did you come up with? Please leave your comment and share with all of us!

Labels: conscious choice, fun, inner peace, Intensive Self-Care, present moment, stress management, work life balance

One of the shows my family enjoyed over the summer is America's Got Talent. It cracks me up to watch the hilarious auditions of those who THOUGHT they had talents. Apparently many people thought being entertaining equals being talented. Hello? You can watch someone being completely drunk and making a fool of themselves in public. That could be entertaining, but definitely NOT a talent on their part.

On the other hand, there are no doubt mind-blowing talents out there. I tend to adore those who are truly talented and yet show humility. True talent with a beautiful soul. Donald Braswell is one such fine example. He is a car salesman who used to be a professional singer. A car accident severed his vocal cord, leaving him unable to speak. After 11 long years, he finally got his singing voice back, and it was the first time he got on the stage again.

I would never forget his first audition show. He was the last one in the audition that day. After watching a slew of terrible performances before him, the judges and the entire audience were grumpy and restless. When he began to sing "You Raise Me Up", the entire audience was BOOING him. "This is UNBELIEVABLE", I said to my kids, "How can they be SO rude? He's got a great voice!" And he surely does. Amazingly, he kept his composure and kept on singing despite the chaos.

Then, something completely unexpected happened. As soon as he hit the high note of the chorus, the entire audience broke out in cheers! It's as if he all of a sudden had a completely different audience. They applauded and cheered for him with standing ovation. Even the judges were stunned by such drastic transformation. It brought tears to my eyes every time I watch that video.

Donald Braswell turned a deaf ear to the booing audience, stuck to his dream, and transformed the nay sayers into his biggest fans.

In life, we sometimes encounter nay sayers and doubters. They might not believe in your dream or your ability. Sometimes your friends and family hold you back, out of their concerns for you. Oftentimes, they tell you it can't be done, based on their own fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs. Regardless of their intention, the problem is, if you buy into what they say, you might give up your goals and dreams altogether.

In my own life, I've had to deal with many nay sayers, some are my own friends and family. Over the years, I've been told many different reason why I can't do certain things. I've been told that I can't do it, because I'm a woman, a foreigner who doesn't speak perfect English, too short, not strong enough (get that a lot because I'm petite), don't have the right credential, not pretty enough, too shy, it's too dangerous, etc. Some sound like very "logical" reasons too. And almost everyone who told me these reasons told me that they did it out of concerns for me.

Here's the thing. If I had listened to them, I probably wouldn't have moved to a foreign country, started over in new careers until I found the one I truly love, got my Black Belt and gold medals, became a keynote speaker, wrote my book, etc. When I reflect upon what I've achieved, it's because I CHOSE to turn a deaf ear to the nay sayers. When they say "You can't", I say "Just watch me".

Sometimes you could turn the nay sayers into your raving fans, like Donald Braswell did. Sadly, I've found that sometimes your own friends and family are the last ones to come on board with your dream. Sometimes they wouldn't even come on board, despite seeing your success.

So, what can you do? You can "upgrade" your friends, but you might not want to "divorce" your family. If that's case, I suggest limiting your contact with them, so that you are less likely to be negatively affected.

In the meantime, seek out people who see and support your vision and goals. I've always stressed the importance of having your own "success team" to support you in achieving your goals. It's critical to surround yourself with people who are positive, believe in you, hold up your vision for you, and can support you and hold you accountable. Joining a mastermind group and/or hiring a life coach are both great ways to get such support. If you have a burning desire to turn your dream into reality, I can be your partner to help you achieve that!

What's your dream? There are many factors dictating your success, however, I'd argue that the ability to turn a deaf ear to nay sayers (and believe in yourself) is one of the most critical. When someone says "you can't", simply say "thanks for sharing" and take another step toward your dream.

"When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. "

-- Daisaku Ikeda, Japanese Author, Poet and Peace Activist

P.S. Check out Mastermind Group Resources Blog for tips and tools for masterminding success. Visit my coaching website www.RxForBalance.com to learn how coaching can help you achieve your goals.

P.P.S. Here's Donald Braswell's audition video. Enjoy!

Labels: commitment, empowerment, goal-setting, inspiration, intention, mastermind, mental fitness, perseverance, personal development, success

Just for today let yourself dream.

Imagine that on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, your dream of finding and keeping EXTRAordinary love will come true.

THE LOST EPISTLE OF JESUS, Evan Drake Howard's suspenseful novel of love, betrayal, and redemption, invites you to imagine the dream in a radically new way. Set in first century Jerusalem, THE LOST EPISTLE OF JESUS makes you a member of the cast. Along with a young Jewish woman and the two brothers who compete for her love, you take a journey of discovery -- a journey that leads into the very hearts of Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene. From them, and with them, you learn lessons of love that can change your life forever.

Just for today, if you purchase THE LOST EPISTLE OF JESUS at http://www.healingthewoundsoflove.com, you will receive a bundle of free, relationship-enhancing bonus gifts. Like this deeply spiritual novel, these downloadable resources will transport you into love's vast unexplored universe, and give you new keys to its secrets.

Just for today, ponder our violent world and see how much it needs these secrets. If you share your discoveries with the world, the dream of peace will live on, because love is the only power strong enough to banish hate and end warfare.

Just for today, remember that the dream begins with you. By finding and sustaining extraordinary love, you promote peace in a tangible way. Let THE LOST EPISTLE OF JESUS
and the bonus gifts offered by renowned therapists, life coaches, entrepreneurs, and educators help and inspire you.

All proceeds from this promotion will go to the Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic, the only hospital that serves the poor of that area.

Just for today, dare to dream again.

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Take action now. The offer ends at MIDNIGHT
on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH.

Labels: love, relationship, Resources, spirituality

Last Sunday (September 14) was Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, aka Moon Festival, which falls on August 15th of the lunar calendar. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese culture (the other being the Chinese New Year), and is a legal holiday in several countries. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally, on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together.

If you're curious about the many legends surrounding this holiday day, my friend Jay did a great job introducing them on his blog. The only "dispute" I have is the story of Chang-er (the beautiful lady who lives on the moon) and her husband Hou Yi (the archer). There are probably several versions of this legend. The version he likes best depicts Chang-er almost like Eve, who failed to resist temptation and got both Adam and her into trouble. Isn't it so interesting how women get blamed in different cultures? The story that I grew up with (in Taiwan) is quite the opposite. I was told that after shooting down the 9 suns, Hou Yi became the emperor. People were relieved from the scorching 10 suns but got a dictator who wanted to become immortal (sound familiar?). Chang-er swallowed the magic pill to prevent Hou Yi from taking it, and to her surprise, flew all the way to the moon.

My husband and I took the kids to the park on Sunday, thinking we'd do some type of family fitness training together. It's a beautiful sunny day. What we didn't expect was the heat wave and record high temperature on that day (felt like over 90 degrees with humidity). The park has a beautiful lake, and we even saw beautiful swans and other wildlife. I brought my Nikon SLR with my new zoom lens, and got some great pictures. When I'm having fun taking pictures, I'm in my own world. Time disappears, and the weather doesn't affect me a bit. I've been out rain or shine, in knee-high snow too. I'm just too happy to care. My kids, however, couldn't take the heat. They practiced throwing football with daddy for a while, but they were drenched quickly and wanted to leave. So, we decided to skip the picnic part, and fled to the Chinese grocery store to buy moon cakes.

A couple years ago, I forgot to check the lunar calendar and completely missed the Moon Festival. I was most upset that I didn't get a chance to taste the moon cakes. By the time I went to the grocery store, a few days after the Moon Festival, they had taken all the moon cakes off the shelf (or maybe they were all sold out). I couldn't believe it! That's why I made it a point this time to buy the moon cakes before it's too late.

That night, we made Oolong tea, and enjoyed our moon cakes. I called my parents to wish them happy Moon Festival. It's a day of family gathering and remembering loved ones who are apart. One of the most famous Chinese poems about the Moon Festival expresses such sentiment so beautifully: "Wishing you a long life, so even though we're a thousand miles apart, at least we share the same moon".

I wish you and your loved ones will have a happy long life together. And if you're apart for whatever reason, take comfort that you share the same beautiful moon.

Labels: holidays, love, relationship